“Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can”
Lowell Thomas

OCTOBER 2009

Resting HR (average): 55
Resting HR range: 51-61

Neural mobility: 29/24cm

Average weekly mileage: 46km
Average training load: 107

Running time:km range: 4:45 – 5:52

Weight: 71.4kg
Fat %: 21.6%

“Listen to your body. Do not be a blind and deaf tenant”
Dr. George Sheehan

“The fact that you have been knocked down is interesting,
but the length of time you remain down is important”
Austin O’Malley

This week started off badly, with my leg blowing up again on monday’s run. I only managed 6km
The rest of the week was aimed at rehab for the leg but unfortunately I could only manage 6km again on sunday.
With my Comrades qualifier in 4 weeks, the Melbourne marathon is simply to close to be able to prepare properly for it. With much regret and disappointment my Comrades 2009 is over
I will probably not run for 2-3 months, try to get the leg right and if it gets better, Comrades 2010 remains a possibility…

 

“The things which hurt, instruct”
Benjamin Franklin

“Giving up is just too easy.
Stopping before any results have time
to show themselves is all too common”
Justin Herald

This was a better week, which started quite well with a hill session on monday and a decent run on tuesday. I actually felt fitter on tuesday and was able to get faster towards the end, although it was still a slow pace.
On thursday my run was still very slow, slower than the previous week, so maybe I was starting to suffer a bit
Friday I could only manage 5km as my shins were sore, and so I haven’t been able to run since.
I’m hoping a bit of rest and treatment gets me back soon. Unfortunately I stepped on the scales on sunday morning and I am still 7kg overweight, I haven’t lost anything yet! This week I aim to step it up with more ab work and some evening sessions…

 

“You have to have confidence in your ability
and then be tough enough to follow through”
Rosalynn Carter

“Success is not measured by what a man accomplishes,
but by the opposition he has encountered,
and the courage with which he has maintained
the struggle against overwhelming odds”
Charles Lindbergh

Although this was a full week, it did not have the volume I would like. It can be frustrating starting up again, but we must all start somewhere.
Monday I backed up well from Noosa with a hill session, but by Tuesday my legs were sore so I had to go for a walk. By Wednesday I was starting to get physically tired as i’m not used to the exercise.
I managed a decent interval session on Thursday but on Friday my left shin/ankle area was sore so I cut that short.
Sunday I had to make up my long run, and although I wanted to give up after 10-12km, I struggled through to 24km. Next week I have to back this up again…

 

“If you ever get a second chance in life for something,
you’ve got to go all the way”
Lance Armstrong

Since the end of Comrades 2008, I have returned home, inspired but still with back issues.

I have been consulting with health professionals and a CT scan of my lumbar spine has indicated small disc lesions but nothing serious.
Whilst these have probably contributed to my problems I have a large neural tension problem in my back and legs. With good management and rehabilitation I hope to get it under control and return to run comrades 2009 better prepared than my 2008 attempt.

For the first month or so I have done a handful of runs over short distances. One thing is for sure, you lose fitness very quickly! And the 7kg I picked up in South Africa have not helped at all!

I entered the Noosa half marathon on August 24, and ended up running 1:44.
It was not a comfortable run with my legs getting tight and sore after 6-7km, and although I slowed i managed to just come in under 5 min/km pace. With the Melbourne marathon 6 weeks away I have a lot of work to do…